Some Thoughts on the Origins of the Old Turkic 12-Year Animal Cycle.

The article presents information on the origins of the Old Turkic 12-year animal cycle, where the years are named after animals including rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. A brief background and a comparison of the animals in the 12-year animal cycle and the habitual names of these animals in China, Thailand, and Mongolia are offered. This article also presents a discussion of the etymology of the animals included in the Old Turkic animal cycle list.